Employee stress topmost concern for cos in India: Willis Towers Watson study

Lack of employees’ physical activity (62%) and stress (55%) are the top lifestyle risk factors identified by employers in India, according to the India Health and Wellbeing study by Willis Towers Watson released on Tuesday.

The other top concerns were obesity (43%), followed by poor financial wellbeing (27%) and tobacco use (25%), showed the study by the leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.

Combating employee stress appears to be a key focus area for employers in India, revealed the study. A vast majority, 80% of the organisations, have taken at least one action to manage employee stress and mental health in 2018 and 89% selected “identify and manage stress and behavioural health issues across the workforce” as a top priority.

The study was conducted during June to August 2018 and polled over 100 organisations and senior human resource leaders from multiple sectors to explore the strategies and tactics used by organisations in India to address employee health and wellbeing.

About 66% employers have already developed or are developing a stress or mental health strategy for their employees and an additional 17% are considering it for 2021. The key steps already taken by organisations to manage employee stress and mental health include providing flexible working options (68%), followed by offering onsite stress management interventions (46%), promoting the Employee Assistance Programmes (40%); offering stress management and resilience training (38%); and employee education and training (38%).

“Stress has a direct link to workplace performance and productivity. While some employers in India have already taken steps to develop a stress or mental health strategy, more focussed effort is required to identify the specific reasons of stress and design interventions aimed at addressing them and improving the emotional and mental health of employees,” said Sudesh Shetty, head of health and benefits, Willis Towers Watson Insurance Brokers. Almost 60% companies do not use data/matrix to measure the stress of the workforce and the leading causes, and that surely is an area of improvement, he added.

“To translate this (the increased focus on health and well-being) into all-round wellbeing, enhanced productivity and ultimately improved financial performance, companies must develop a coherent and holistic health and wellness strategy encompassing all four aspects – physical, emotional, financial, and family,” said Rohit Jain, head of India, Willis Towers Watson. The study also showed almost one in four organisations are beginning to engage the employees’ family in one way or another.

Although tobacco use was identified as one of the top five lifestyle concerns by 25% of the companies, only 8% currently offer tobacco cessation programmes; and additional 15% are considering that following suite in 2021. Nearly 44% of the organisations have taken at least one action on tobacco use in 2018.